Posted by Matt GermaincloseAuthor: Matt GermainName: Matt GermainEmail: mgermain@ntca.orgSite:http://www.ntca.orgAbout: Matt is a law student at Syracuse University, and is entering his second year. He is also a legal intern for the summer of 2013 in NCTA’s Legal & Industry Division, where he is assisting NCTA staff with regulatory proceedings and industry research.See Authors Posts (7) on Monday, July 1, 2013 · ·

Time Warner Cable’s (TWC) home management and security system, IntelligentHome, is expected to be deployed throughout the majority of the company’s footprint by fall of 2013. First introduced in 2011, IntelligentHome has already expanded to serve areas in Texas, North Carolina and New York.

IntelligentHome lets customers remotely access and control their home security settings, lighting and thermostats and view real-time video of their home from a PC, tablet or smartphone. “Our technology provides professional monitoring plus direct customer access to information about the home, all with a level of flexibility and control that traditional home security systems can’t deliver. We know this is what many of our customers need and we’re excited to deliver this innovative solution that is easy to access, operate and customize,” said Darrel Hegar, regional vice president of operations, Time Warner Cable Carolinas.

“When people move, one of the first companies they call is the cable company…Those same customers often find themselves in need of home security as well, and now we can offer both in one call,” Adam Mayer, vice president of IntelligentHome stated.

IntelligentHome pricing starts at $34 per month and includes a touchscreen control system, two wireless door or window sensors, and a wireless motion detector, along with window warning stickers and a yard sign. The $34 per month base price does however require TWC Internet and another qualified TWC service with it. Read more

Bewkes described TWC’s strategy of using YouTube as a promotional device to entice viewers to its content on TNT and HBO. He indicated that the company did not use YouTube to distribute network-length original content, as both networks already provide content by subscription through their own on-demand broadband portals. “We think it’s great the extent to which those channels can have a presence on YouTube to drive viewership on our networks,” Bewkes said.

Bewkes said in his remarks that it was HBO that pioneered distribution of on-demand original programming, focusing on the overall value of subscription video on demand (SVOD). Read more

Bloomberg reports in an April 17 article that Cox Communications Inc. has filed suit in federal court in Delaware against its former business partner Sprint Nextel over patent infringement. The complaint is a counter suit that claims Sprint has violated two patents held by Cox. It goes on to ask that the court dismiss a suit filed by Sprint in December claiming that Cox, Time Warner Cable and Comcast had infringed upon 12 Sprint patents.

The business relationship between Sprint and Cox involved the use of Sprint’s wireless services for Cox cable customers. The relationship reportedly went south shortly after Cox stopped using Sprint’s wireless services and agreed to sell advanced wireless services (AWS) spectrum to Verizon Wireless, joining Time Warner Cable, Comcast and Bright House Networks in a similar but separate transaction. Read more

Posted by Jesse WardcloseAuthor: Jesse WardName: Jesse WardEmail: jward@ntca.orgSite:http://www.ntca.orgAbout: Jesse Ward is a policy analyst for the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA). Jesse evaluates emerging technologies, both domestically and internationally, in the key areas of broadband, video and wireless, for the benefit of rural telcos.See Authors Posts (692) on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 · ·

AT&T has received a lot of industry attention for its new, creative wireless billing proposal. The telco revealed its plans in a Wall Street Journal article, which ran earlier this week. AT&T is developing a service whereby content or app developers could somehow pay for their app to have a reduced impact on end user data caps. John Donovan, the executive responsible for AT&T’s network and technology, compared the idea to toll-free calling for the mobile-broadband world or “freight included.” Here is an excerpt from the WSJ: Read more

As American consumers find themselves with less discretionary income and more video choices, large cable operators are seeking new ways to attract and retain subscribers. Last year, Time Warner Cable rolled out a $29.99 TV Essentials plan and Comcast soon followed with a $24.95 offering. It is worth noting that neither line-up includes ESPN, often the most expensive of the program networks.

This past week, Cox Cable followed suit and un-wrapped a new collection called TV Economy priced at $34.99. It also does not include ESPN. When comparing the low-cost packages with the typical expanded basic packages that might run in the $60 to $80 per month range, the multi-system operators may have created a small “bridge” to get them past the continued drain due to high consumer retail rates.

Looking ahead, one must wonder if consumers will be willing to forgo access to certain expensive programming in exchange for lower video bills. Time and continued package modification will tell.

Posted by Jesse WardcloseAuthor: Jesse WardName: Jesse WardEmail: jward@ntca.orgSite:http://www.ntca.orgAbout: Jesse Ward is a policy analyst for the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA). Jesse evaluates emerging technologies, both domestically and internationally, in the key areas of broadband, video and wireless, for the benefit of rural telcos.See Authors Posts (692) on Monday, January 23, 2012 · ·

Last week Comcast and Verizon Wireless announced that they will launch a new marketing program in Seattle and Portland, Ore., selling their respective services to the other’s customers.

This is the first marketing promotion under the new landmark partnership which was announced last month, whereby Verizon Wireless agreed to pay $3.6 billion to a consortium of cable providers for 122 advanced wireless services (AWS) spectrum licenses covering approximately 259 million people, or more than 85% of the U.S. population. Additionally, the cable companies and Verizon Wireless entered into a joint re-sale, marketing and technology development agreement. Separately, just a few days later, Verizon Wireless entered into an similar agreement with Cox Communications to purchase 20 MHz of AWS spectrum licenses covering 28 million POPs for $315 million. Read more

Comcast is moving quickly. While the spectrum sale will likely take up to 12 months to receive regulatory approval, Comcast Cable President Neil Smit announced last week that the cable company will begin bundling Verizon Wireless services in four markets in early 2012. “The teams are already engaged; they are great commercial arrangements and we think we’ve put together great packages that combine the best of the various bundles,” Smit said, while speaking at a UBS investor conference. Read more